Why the drastic cut in allocations for farmers, fishermen, asks PH backbencher

KUALA LUMPUR: A Pakatan Harapan (PH) backbencher today questioned the government’s seriousness in helping farmers and fishermen, as this, he said, is not reflected in the recently tabled 2019 Budget.

Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) said while he did not wish to criticise the government he supported, there were serious issues that the government needed to focus on.

“I believe the agriculture minister must protect the interest of farmers and fishermen. They are not corporate people. They are just common folk.

“For instance, in my constituency in Pasir Gudang, the fishermen who live there, they are all poor people, and they need our help,” he said when debating the budget for the agriculture and agro-based industry ministry at the committee stage in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Hassan cited the example of the ongoing Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show 2018 in Serdang, which was recently launched by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“That (exhibition) is good. A lot of money spent for the exhibition.

“But the exhibition will be meaningless, and a mere festival, if the welfare and livelihood of the fishermen and the farmers is not looked after,” he said.

Hassan said the facts and figures in the budget document did not lie, and asked if the government really wanted to prioritise the agricultural sector.

“I don’t see this reflected. The government is not giving priority to agriculture and fisheries.

“The government does not seem to truly want to help the farmers and the fishermen, who are the ones responsible for farm produce and fish yields,” he said.

Hassan Abdul Karim.

Hassan cited the example of the budget for padi fertiliser subsidy, which was reduced from RM465 million this year to RM230 million.

“This is a 50% decrease. What on earth is this?

“And then, there is the padi production incentive. The budget has been reduced from RM563 million to RM281 million. Another 50% decrease.

“We are producing padi. Farmers are the poorest people and they are sacrificing. Their land has not been converted for commercial use to produce food for the country,” he said.

The targeted incentive for fishermen, Hassan said, had also gone down by 62.41%, from RM260 million to RM98 million.

“As for the subsidies for fertiliser for ‘padi huma’ and ‘padi bukit’, the allocation has gone down from RM70 million to nothing.

“This is a 100% decrease. Please explain. Where is the agriculture minister?” he asked.

The cost of living allowance for land fishermen, he said, had also been reduced from RM12.5 million to RM3.5 million, which is a 72% decrease.

“If possible, I really do not want to criticise the government. I love this government. Please help. Can’t the budget be amended?” he asked.

In the 2019 Budget, the budget allocation for the ministry was reduced by 13.7%, from RM5.119 billion to RM4.417 billion. -FMT